Navratri is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated across India. It is a nine-day festival that is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her various incarnations. It is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and is dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine energy. During these nine days, devotees worship nine different forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Navadurga.
Navratri is celebrated twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and once in the month of Ashwin (September-October). During this festival, devotees perform various rituals and puja to seek blessings from the goddess.
The Navratri puja vidhi varies from region to region, but there are certain common rituals that are followed by most devotees. Here's a step-by-step guide to performing the Navratri puja:
Preparation:
Before starting the puja, it is important to clean the house and the puja room thoroughly. It is also important to have all the necessary puja items like flowers, fruits, sweets, incense sticks, camphor, and a lamp.
Day 1 - Kalash Sthapana:
The first day of Navratri is dedicated to the establishment of the Kalash. The Kalash is a pot filled with water and covered with mango leaves. A coconut is placed on top of the pot, and it is decorated with flowers. The Kalash is then worshipped as the symbol of the Goddess.
Day 2 - Ghatasthapana:
On the second day of Navratri, a clay pot is filled with soil and sown with barley seeds. The pot is then kept in the puja room and worshipped as a symbol of fertility and growth.
Day 3 - Worship of Goddess Durga:
On the third day of Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped. A red cloth is spread on the puja platform, and the idol of the goddess is placed on it. The goddess is worshipped with flowers, sweets, and incense sticks.
Day 4 - Worship of Goddess Lakshmi:
On the fourth day of Navratri, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. A silver coin is placed on a red cloth, and the goddess is worshipped with flowers, sweets, and incense sticks.
Day 5 - Worship of Goddess Saraswati:
On the fifth day of Navratri, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped. Books and musical instruments are placed in front of the goddess, and she is worshipped with flowers, sweets, and incense sticks.
Day 6 - Worship of Skandamata:
On the sixth day of Navratri, Skandamata, the mother of Lord Kartikeya, is worshipped. She is worshipped with flowers, sweets, and incense sticks.
Day 7 - Worship of Katyayani:
On the seventh day of Navratri, Goddess Katyayani is worshipped. She is worshipped with flowers, sweets, and incense sticks.
Day 8 - Worship of Kalratri:
On the eighth day of Navratri, Goddess Kalratri is worshipped. She is worshipped with flowers, sweets, and incense sticks.
Day 9 - Worship of Maha Gauri:
On the ninth day of Navratri, Maha Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva, is worshipped. She is worshipped with flowers, sweets, and incense sticks.
After the puja is completed, the prasad is distributed among the devotees. Navratri is a time for spiritual growth and renewal, and by performing the puja with devotion and dedication, one can seek the blessings of the goddess and experience inner peace and harmony.
Apart from the daily rituals, devotees also offer special prayers and bhajans to the goddess during Navratri. They also observe fasts, abstain from non-vegetarian food, and meditate on the divine energy of the goddess.
In conclusion, Navratri puja vidhi is a set of rituals that are performed during the nine days of Navratri to worship the divine feminine energy. It is an important festival in Hinduism that celebrates the victory of good over evil and reminds us of the power of the divine energy.
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